Today’s job market can be grim for jobseekers. So when you are fortunate enough to receive an interview, highlight what you have done.

However, what is more important is where you want to go and why. Present a vision. Support it by describing the steps on how to get there, what you bring to it and how you will bring others there.

Passion is critical. Love what you do and use that to create the ladder to your vision.

Clients often ask how to get their body language to be inclusive and engaging without appearing too silly or moving too much.

Too many make the mistake of thinking that body language is just about arm gestures when it is really about the movement of the entire body. It begins with the relaxing of the shoulders, holding good posture and standing erect. And don’t forget your facial expressions.

Remembering these things will help you send a message through your body language which precisely matches the words you are using.

There have been many comments about the negativity on display in the Republican race for the presidential nomination. While some commentators suggest negative advertising works, it is generally seen as a bad way to win.

Today, especially in interviews, you have to refrain from saying anything negative about a previous employer or situation. Instead, you want to speak to what you can do and what your positive qualities are.

Once you begin a negative dialog, your listeners will be wondering what negative things you will eventually say about them.

In the US it is considered the norm to offer a handshake when first meeting someone. In some cases a hug may also be appropriate. However, in other countries greetings are different. Since business is international, it would be good to know the greeting customs used in different countries.

Here are some examples:

India

This is land of Namaste. Place your hands in a prayer position at the chest, point your fingers upward and bow slightly while saying “Namaste” (nuhm-uh-stey).

South Africa

The traditional South African greeting is a standard handshake grasp followed by a shift of hands to an upward position, then back to the standard grasp – all in one fluid motion.

Japan

One bows from the waist with palms on the thighs and heels together. A bow ranges from a nod to a 90 degree bend at the waist. Levels of respect are indicated by the depth and duration of a bow. A small head nod is casual and informal.

When you visit these countries, using their greeting customs will be noted as a sign of respect.

In today’s business environment, especially in a small office setting, when is casual conversation just gossip? There is a fine line between both. First, it really depends on the office culture and the intent of the individuals involved. What might be an innocent comment can become very inappropriate.
 
I like casual conversations to be non-personal and non-controversial. So, wishing someone a nice day is easy versus saying you hope the individual feels better about a personal situation.

A good example about interpretation of intent occurred recently when I asked a new person in the office where she came from. I meant it like did she live in the area. However, this person thought I was asking about her heritage.

Talking about the weather is not a bad topic to get the conversation rolling on a non-controversial note!

Brad Pit was recently interviewed. One phrase from that interview sticks out in my mind: “When you are interesting to yourself you will be interesting to others.”

Being involved in different projects and remaining constantly refreshed helps you stay connected and relevant. One tactic is to move out of your comfort zone and try something new. Folks I find the most interesting are the ones always attempting new experiences.

There was a recent segment on 60 minutes about how one can acquire charisma. This is a critical element in developing relationships and even more important in leadership.

However, there are different levels of charisma. The piece I believe is critical for leadership is that folks want to be with you. They also trust you have the best intentions for whatever is currently happening.

Here are some critical elements of charisma:

• Eye contact
• High energy
• Passion in what you believe in
• Listening skills
• Trust (you always are true to your word)

If you use practice these elements daily, you will begin to develop the charisma vital for fostering business and social relationships.

Due to the economy both companies and people are being stretched to do more. In fact, in today’s workplace, more folks are putting in 60 to 80 hours a week while being paid for 40. So how do you get noticed without sounding whiny or being felt taken advantage of? 

I believe it is important to sit down with your manager and let s/he know what you are doing in an inclusive way. Start the conversation by stating that this is an update of what has been going on these past few weeks. Next, when you get your performance review, include the items you have been working on. Mention the positive impact on your group and the good effect the activities have been having on the company. Follow this advice and you will be noticed and noted as a high potential leader.

More problems are caused by e-mail than intended. That’s because words, if not written correctly, can be misconstrued. Plus, sentences are sometimes not even fully read if they are too long.

Fast Company magazine just had an article about how to be effective with email communications. Here are some golden rules to remember:

1. Never write an e-mail that is about a controversial subject.
2. Always begin with the end in mind.
3. Never write in all caps. It is considered shouting.
4. Always read the e-mail out loud to see how it may sound to the recipient.
5. Because we live and work in a global world, be aware of the impact words can have in cultures outside of the US.

One more guideline, always assume that everyone in the world will receive and read your email!

Remembering these simple rules will help ensure your e-mails will be read and effective at the same time.

Listening skills are critical to effective and inclusive communication. So often, people interrupt before another person finishes. Today, I happened to hear an example of this. It was on a television program where one person kept interrupting the other speaker because he did not agree with him.

Instead of obtaining my support for his view, I immediately thought how rude and abusive the speaker was. In fact, I could not even listen to his comments. When someone is trying to explain a point that you do not agree with, you must listen and allow the other person to finish. If you do this, I can promise that when you do speak, the other person will believe you have listened.

And then they will listen to you.